Is it time to replace your kitchen cabinets? Before you start the demo process, there are a few cabinet considerations to keep in mind. From budgeting to style to resale value, this project involves multiple facets that are important to consider. Here’s what you need to know about the cost and materials involved.
Cost
When determining your budget for kitchen cabinets, you have three main categories from which to choose. On the high end, for those with bigger budgets, are custom kitchen cabinets. You can fully customize the look of your kitchen by ordering non-standard heights and depths, specialty colors and finishes and unique designs. The more customized you desire, the bigger the budget you’ll need. For some, though, it is worth the extra funds to get exactly what you want, or to customize cabinetry for a kitchen with a non-standard layout (which is common in older homes).
The next step down from custom kitchen cabinets is semi-custom cabinetry. This may include special accessories and more options than are available with standard kitchen cabinets. You can choose from a wider variety of door styles and colors, but are more limited in the size selection than with fully customized cabinets.
The third (and most affordable) option is box cabinetry. These are the kitchen cabinets that are in stock and feature common sizes, styles and colors. They are typically available with a quick turnaround and include strong warranty coverage. Keep in mind that you can always “customize” these kitchen cabinets after installation with upgraded hardware to create a more unique look, even with standard cabinets.
Materials
When you think of kitchen cabinets, you probably think of wood. But it’s important to keep in mind that there is a wide variety of wood materials available, and wood is not your only option for kitchen cabinets.
If you decide to go with wooden kitchen cabinets, the most common choices for these products include red oak, white oak, hard maple, ash, pine, hickory, cherry and birch. To determine which wood is best for your kitchen, consider the grain and color. Do you prefer a uniform look or grain variation? Do you want a darker wood or a lighter look for your kitchen cabinets? Once you decide on these two main factors, this will guide you to the right wood selection.
If you want to think outside of the world of wood for your kitchen cabinets, laminate and Thermofoil are two additional options. Laminate is available in high-pressure-treated and low-pressure-treated varieties. Low-pressure laminate is lighter but less durable, and high-pressure laminate is more durable but creates heavier cabinetry. Thermofoil is a vinyl film that mimics the look of wood but is more affordable than real wood. To determine which material is best for your setting, consult with a kitchen cabinets professional.
Learn more about kitchen cabinets
Do you have questions about other kitchen cabinet considerations? Contact the experienced professionals at Covenant Woodworks. We’ve been providing top construction solutions to satisfied customers since 2003. We’ll help you design and create the perfect cabinets for your dream kitchen. Reach us today at 770-535-8446.